Five PSU Field Hockey players named All-Little East Conference

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Five members of the Plymouth State University field hockey team were recognized Tuesday with selection to the 2013 All-Little East Conference Team, as voted by the LEC's head coaches.

Senior Aisha Rai Thompson (Berlin, N.H.) and junior Nikki Garvey (Canaan, N.H./Mascoma) took top honors for Plymouth State, earning First Team All-LEC honors, while seniors Lauren Carroll (Rollinsford, N.H./Somersworth) and Jackie Morin (Scarborough, Maine) were Second Team selections and freshman Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) was a Third Team honoree. Thompson is a three-time All-LEC selection, Carroll and Morin are two-time All-Conference performers, and Garvey and Wilder are first-time choices.

A four-year starter on defense, Thompson has anchored a Panther defense that posted three shutouts this year. She has helped the team shut down the opponent's top scorers, directing PSU's defensive effort, while also recording six defensive saves along the goal line. Thompson is a veteran of 80 career games on defense.

A three-year starter, Garvey has had an outstanding season on offense. Garvey leads the Little East with 25 goals and 57 points, becoming just the third player in school history to score at least 25 goals in a season. She recorded hat tricks in five games, and tallied two goals in two other games. Garvey has upped her career total to 44 goals and 16 assists for 104 points, sixth on PSU's all-time list for goals and fifth for points.

Carroll and Morin have given PSU two solid four-year veterans in the midfield who can defend and are also offensive threats. Carroll is tied for the LEC lead with 14 assists, which has equaled the school record for assists in a season (Caitlin Moran, 2004) and broken the PSU mark with 28 career assists. Morin is second on the team and ranked in the top five in the LEC in both goals and points as she has currently has 16 goals and 35 points. Morin has also climbed on PSU's career records lists as well, up to third in goals (49) and points (118) and tied for sixth in assists (20).

Wilder has enjoyed a strong rookie season for the Panthers. She is third on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 32 points, including four game-winners. Wilder posted hat tricks in Panther wins over Worcester State University and New England College, and scored two goals against both Fitchburg State University and Bridgewater State University.

PSU, 13-6 overall, is the #1 seed in this week's ECAC Division III New England Tournament, and will host the semifinals and championship game Saturday and Sunday at Arold Field. The Panthers will play in the first semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. against either fourth-seeded Smith College (11-8) or fifth-seeded Worcester State University (11-8).